White Sox notes: Garcia gets day off in Baltimore

BALTIMORE — Since being called up to the White Sox last month, right fielder Avisail Garcia has played in every game, but that streak could end Friday night in Baltimore as manager Robin Ventura left him out of the starting lineup.

The White Sox called Garcia up on Aug. 9, and he's posted a .333 average in 26 games since then. But Ventura wants to give him a break.

“He just looks a little tired — give him a day today, and he’ll be back in there tomorrow,” Ventura said.

Garcia came over to Chicago from Detroit as a part of the three-way trade with the Tigers and the Red Sox that sent Jake Peavy to Boston in July. His .333 average since coming back up ranks 10th-best in the American League over that span.

Garcia has a .291 average overall between Detroit and Chicago with four home runs.

The 22-year-old native of Venezuela has impressed teammates with his ability. He's helped the struggling White Sox go 13-12 since his arrival from the Tigers.

“He’s played well since he’s been here,” first baseman Adam Dunn said. “He’s so talented, but obviously he’s kind of a raw talent. The sky’s the limit for him. I’m not going to put too much stock in what you see now, it’s a good preview but I think the world of the kid, he’s a good kid and he works hard.”

Garcia owns five multi-hit games in his last 10 contests and has hit .351 with 13 RBIs in his last 22 games.

“He’s a mature kid, he’s been in the big leagues a little bit before,” Ventura said. “He’s a combination of power and speed that most people don’t have, and he’s continuing to get better with plate discipline and things like that but he’s a rare combination of a lot of things.”

Jordan Danks will start in right field for the White Sox on Friday night, with brother John getting the start, as well.

Troncoso back from DL

The White Sox reinstated relief pitcher Ramon Troncoso from the 15-day disabled list before Friday's game with the Orioles.

Troncoso went 1-4 with a 5.25 ERA in 25 appearances for the White Sox this year before going on the disabled list on Aug. 17 due to pericarditis, which is inflammation of tissue around the heart.

The addition of the 30-year old Troncoso to the bullpen increases Chicago’s active roster to 31 after it added pitchers Erik Johnson and Daniel Webb along with catcher Miguel Gonzalez and infielder Marcus Semien on Sept. 3.

This is Troncoso’s fourth year in the Major Leagues and first with the White Sox after spending four years with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Five Sox visit injured veterans

Five White Sox players visited wounded war veterans at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside of Washington, D.C., during the day Friday.

Third basemen Conor Gillaspie and pitchers Addison Reed, Nate Jones, Donnie Veal and Dylan Axelrod all took the trip to Bethesda, Md., to visit with the veterans as a part of an annual trip the White Sox make to the hospital.

“What those guys went through is amazing, and it was cool to see how positive they were and the sense of humor some of those guys had,” Gillaspie said. “They’ve given pretty much everything they’ve had, and I’m glad I had the chance to go do that because it definitely put me in a little bit of a better mood today as far as thinking about what’s really important.”

Jones and Veal made the trip last season with the White Sox, a trip that seems to give every player a little different perspective of and a thankfulness for what these veterans do.